Improvement in steam-traps



HIRAM s. MAXIM AND LoaINe r. HAwEs, OF BROOKLYN, New YORK.

INIPRQVEMENT IN STElANl-TRAPS. j

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,063, dated July 22,1873; application filed March 14, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HIRAM S. MAXIM and LORING P. HAWES, both ofBrooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinventedcertain Improvements in Steam- Traps, of which the following is aspecification:

The object of this invention is to allow the water of condensation toescape from a steam heating-coil or similar apparatus and to shut thevalve when the water has blown out. This we effect by means of anexpansionvessel containing alcohol or other easilyevaporated liquid-thatis, expanded by the contact of the steam heat, and closes the valve andstops the escape until the apparatus cools sufliciently for theexpansive vessel to contract and open the valve.

Figure 1 in the accompanying drawing `shows a vertical section of a trapembodying our invention. inside support.

A A isv an outer shell, and should be of sufficient strength to resistan internal pressure of one hundred pounds to the square inch. It isformed of two pieces, which are held together by suitable screws, whichcan be removed to repair or clean the inside of Fig. 2 is aplan ot' thewooden the trap. Bis the expansive vessel, rn a 1e j- @dei form, kept inits position by the outer shell uA, and adjusted by the stem c and wheelH. This vessel contains alcohol or other easily-evaporized liquidcombined with or standing on any thick gummy substance like resin, saidgum filling the vessel above the central point, and thus preventing anywaste of alcohol at this point.

When the steam strikes said vessel the expansion of the liquid or theformation of vapor is sufficient to press out or expandits elastic topand bottom, and stop the iow of steam by bringing one of its sidesagainst the opening from whence the steam escapes. When the accumulationof water of condensation allows the parts to cool sufficiently for thevessel B to collapse or lessen in thickness by the diminished pressurewithin it, the side of the vessel which has formed the valve is drawnaway from the steam-inlet, and the water is allowed to run out until theheat is sufcient to expand or boil the alcohol and produce a pressure inthe vessel B, which again springs out its sides and thus closes thevalve, as before.

-ing the spindle or stem c.

G is a cylindrical block of wood, and is secured in its place by the twopins a a, which are soldered tothe sides of the vessel B, but are loosein the wood. length sufficient to prevent the sidesgof the vessel beinginjured by collapsing by the external pressure, or from the face of thestein C being secured down upon it. let-pipe. F is the inlet-pipe. Gisthe inlet valve or opening, and is composed of soft metal, being securedin its place by the concentric ring b b. H is a hand-wheel for turn- Iis a stuffing-nut. K K shows the top of the gum, and L L the top of thealcohol. 1

This trap may be employed to advantage to remove the water fromsteam-engine cylinders. By a proper adjustment ofthe screw-spindle cwater of any temperature from 100O Fahrenheit to 2120 Fahrenheit may beretained or discharged, as desired. A certain temperature produces acertain pressure in vessel B, to which is due a corresponding expansionof said vessel 5 so, if the screw-spindle is so adjusted that itrequires 2000 Fahrenheit to close the valve, the` trap will continue todischarge water as fast as it accumulates at that temperature; if thewater becomes hotter the valve closes,while if it cools the valve opens.The many advantages of his feature are obvious.

This trap will operate equally well either side up.

What we claim as our invention is- 1. The combination of the expansivevessel B, adjusting-spindle c, and stuffing-nut I, operating inconnection with ,the steam-inlet G, substantially as and for the purposehereinbefore set forth.

2. The wooden support C introduced within the expansion-vessel B andheld in position by the pins a, in combination with the inclosing-caseand valve-seat, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The expansion-vessel B of a steam-trap,

containing alcohol above a layer of resinous material, for preventingthe escape of alcohol or the vapors thereof at the joint in the metal,substantially as set forth.

, HIRAM S. MAXIM.

L. P. HAWES.

Witnesses:

A. T. WELCH, HENRY B. ADAMS.

Said block is of a E is the out-

